Building Soil One Compost Pile at a Time Port Washington Main Street Winter Market- April 28, 2018 Market 9am-1pm/ Presentation 11:30am-12pm Join Angela Curtes, owner of Grounded LLC to explore the dynamic world of soil and the reasons why it is so important to care for it, support local- sustainable food efforts, and re-create it, with nature, by implementing home and farm compost systems. Come ready to learn Compost 101 for a promising gardening season and to safeguard one of our most threatened natural resources!
The International Year of Soils was declared by the United Nations in 2015, and December 5th has been ushered in as World Soils Day. Why all the attention to the ground beneath our feet?
Join us for a compelling evening exploring the dynamic world of soil and the reasons why it is so important to care for it, support local- sustainable food efforts, and re-create it, with nature, by implementing home and farm compost systems. Come ready to learn Compost 101 for a promising gardening season and to safeguard one of our most threatened natural resources!
Ongoing Series
Humus-Structured Compost Series Humus-Structured Compost: Attaining Soil Regeneration to Address Escalating Land, Water, and Social Challenges in the 21st Century Hosted by: MATC- Madison Area Technical College Presented by: Angela Curtes, Owner, GROUNDED LLC This educational series staged indoors and out at the Fountain Prairie Farm between March and August, will offer learning and hands-on sustainability practices. We will explore and build a deeper understanding of the current state of agriculture by looking at history, philosophy, and science in order to introduce and implement the Controlled Heat Compost Method as a means to attain vital soil regeneration for the future of our farms, land and water, as well as our overall well being. Individuals may register for all four parts and sub-sessions for $325 total. See instructions at the bottom to register.
Part I - Indoor Workshop: Historic Overview & Impacts of Agriculture and Guiding Principles and Methodology for Establishing a Controlled Heat Windrow Compost System with Angela Curtes - $45 6 - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2018 This workshop provides a historical overview of the modern agricultural movement and its growing impacts on Earth’s basic life support systems, including soil, air, water, and food, in addition to human health. It will provide background to the paralleling sustainable agriculture movement beginning in Europe in the 1920’s and continuing with vigor to this day. We will explore how the matrix of living soil lies at the foundation of a viable and healthy farm operation, which is only possible through building sustainable soil microbial populations. Explore how humus-structured compost, through implementing the controlled heat fermentation compost method, can provide resilient and dynamic fertility that rebuilds and regenerates depleted soils, while also addressing growing environmental concerns. Learn the basic guiding principles and methodology of this composting method in order to design, implement and manage a small to large-scale farm windrow compost system.
Part II - Outdoor Workshop: A-Z Instruction for Implementing a Controlled Heat Windrow Compost System with Angela Curtes - $105 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2018 This full-day, hands-on workshop brings us on-site the Priske- Scottish Highlander Cattle Farm in Fall River, where we will experience all the steps involved in designing and implementing a large-scale windrow compost system. Topics will span from site observation and selection, organic resources, and tools and machinery, to how to best design and implement a compost system for small to large farm operations. This course will further discuss how integrating biodynamic compost principles can aid in decomposition rates and quality, achieving a finished humus-structured compost in 3-4 months. You will also learn how biodynamic compost preparations are applied as an inoculant. Join us for the day and future days on the Priske'sFountain Prairie Farm in Fall River in Columbia County and enjoy a wholesome, locally sourced and prepared lunch!
Part III - Outdoor Workshop: Monitoring, Maintaining and Turning a Compost Windrow with Angela Curtes (Includes 5 Sub-Session Workshops) - $135 This five-part outdoor workshop will develop and follow the life of a compost pile. The workshop will be held at Fountain Prairie Farm and meets every other week starting May 31 and ending July 26. In this workshop we will monitor the compost pile to assure our moisture and temperature are correct; prepare the pile for turning; learn troubleshooting techniques; and properly collect and monitor data throughout the composting process.
Sub-Session 1: Monitoring Methods with Angela Curtes - $30 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31, 2018 With the preparation and implementation complete for establishing a windrow compost system, the next vital phase of monitoring and managing the windrow begins! Attention to temperature, moisture, and aeration will be assessed and monitored to ensure a successful end product. This is especially critical in the first month when implementing a heat-controlled compost system as temperatures can reach up to 158 degrees! Learn to properly observe, assess, monitor, remediate, and data track the life of a dynamic windrow compost system.
Sub-Session 2: Preparing to Turn with Angela Curtes - $35 5 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2018 At the close of the first month, the compost windrow will be further assessed and monitored before undergoing its first turn cycle. This day will review and perform the monitoring and management steps learned in the previous session before learning turning techniques using a skid loader to properly mix, aerate, and turn the compost windrow. Use of the biodynamic compost preparations will be reviewed and additionally applied to the turned windrow.
Sub-Session 3: Troubleshooting with Angela Curtes - $25 6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28, 2018 The transformation of the compost windrow is based on microbial digestion and natural forces, but not without our attention and guidance throughout the entire decomposition process. This short, on-site workshop continues our compost monitoring diligence to properly track and assess the compost’s moisture, temperature, odor, and decomposition rate. Troubleshooting measures will be discussed, determined, and implemented if necessary. Join us for another special outing on Fountain Prairie Farm!
Sub-Session 4: Another Turn with Angela Curtes - $25 6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2018 As the compost moves into its second full month of decomposition it will be ready for its second turn. Join us as we uncover and assess the compost’s phase, which is undergoing an up-building, humus-structuring process. We will continue to assess and monitor the compost’s features before undergoing another turn cycle.
Sub-Session 5: Data Collection with Angela Curtes - $20 6 - 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2018 This short, on-site workshop maintains our keen observations of the composting process over time and into the second and a half-month. We will continue to collect data, including moisture, temperature, and odor and learn to assess past data points in relation to the compost’s physical appearance and its temperature and moisture readings.
Part IV - Outdoor Workshop: Compost Maturation Assessment and Quality Assurance: Concluding Findings, Questions and Discussions with Angela Curtes - $40 5:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday, August 9, 2018 In the third month, the compost will be turned one more time, before determining its maturity and the quality of its finished state. Monitoring, assessing, and data collection will ensue prior to undergoing the third turn. Review of turning techniques and methodology will be discussed as well determining application rates for farm and garden fertility. Quality assessments will be discussed, as well as reviewing past compost laboratory analysis and chromatography insights for quality assurance. Join us for this final, mid-summer outing to the Priske’s Fountain Prairie Farm!
TO REGISTER: Call 608-258-2301 ext. 2 or toll-free 855-473-2301 ext. 2.
